Unions representing cabin crews at Spanish airline Iberia Express have announced plans for strike action from 28 August to 6 September in a bid to "unblock" negotiations on a collective labour agreement. In a joint statement, the USO and SITCPLA unions say they have called the 10-day action by 517 crew members at Iberia Express's Madrid base after the carrier refused to improve an offer made to staff. Negotiations on a collective labour agreement that began in December last year have failed to yield agreement on working conditions. USO and SITCPLA accuse Iberia Express of opposing any union proposal and "offering alternatives far from reality". The unions are seeking to link salaries to inflation, especially given that pay rates have been frozen for seven years, they say. In addition they are seeking salary increases of 6.5% against 2021 and the creation of two pay bands with raises of 11% and 4%, plus bonuses and improvements to transport payments. "We are very disappointed with the management of Iberia Express, who has shown no word or respect for the workers who have fought to keep the company afloat while they will receive millionaire benefits this summer," states USO delegate Adriana Escauriaza. "We trust that they will reconsider their proposals and land on the reality that surrounds their workers." Iberia Express, a subsidiary of flag carrier Iberia, is a low-cost short-haul carrier which mostly operates to and from Madrid Barajas airport and has, 19 Airbus A320-family jets in service.

Delta Air Lines has entered into agreements with Seattle-based Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) to purchase split scimitar winglets for its Boeing 737-800 fleet and for a number of recently acquired 737-900ER aircraft. The US major also recently agreed to purchase scimitar blended winglets for up to 70 of its 757-200 aircraft, says the blended winglet technology specialist, which is a joint venture of Aviation Partners and Boeing. Both the split scimitar winglets and scimitar blended winglets are upgrades to APB's blended winglets, it adds. Delta has previously purchased and installed APB winglet products on its 737-800, 737-900ER, 757-200, 757-300 and 767-300ER fleets.

American Airlines has paid a nonrefundable deposit to Boom Supersonic for 20 of its Overture aircraft and taken an option on an additional 40 jets. The US major's agreement to purchase up to 20 Overture aircraft is contingent on Boom meeting industry-standard operating, performance and safety requirements in addition to American’s usual conditions with manufacturers. Boom last month disclosed a new design for its Overture aircraft, after five windtunnel tests. Powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel, Overture will fly Mach 1.7 over water with a range of 4,250nm (7,871 km), carrying 65-80 passengers at twice the speed of today's airliners, says the US airframer. It expects to roll out Overture aircraft in 2025, and forecasts passenger flights by 2029. "Looking to the future, supersonic travel will be an important part of our ability to deliver for our customers," American's finance chief Derek Kerr states. "We are excited about how Boom will shape the future of travel both for our company and our customers." United Airlines was the first US airline to sign a commercial deal with the manufacturer, agreeing in June 2021 to purchase 15 Overture aircraft. In 2017, Japan Airlines invested $10 million in Boom as part of a strategic partnership.